The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-10-13

advantage of the above facts, yet it must
be allowed that every farmer is the best
Judge of the variety of crops suited to his
peculiar circumstances and surroundings.
Still, Worthy Master and Mr. President,
as eternal as any law "writ where stars
are lit," let him obey the teachings Of
dear. bought experience and grow all of
those crops which will make his farm
self:sustaining and him Independent.
Grain and grass, roots, hay and live stock
and then all the cotton possible.
This practice is altogether practicable,
as is evidenced daily by numbers of our
successful farmers; it gives sensible
rotation, it provides against the vicissi'
tudes of the seasons, it economies labor
and largely offsets the ruinous effects of
low prices for any one product. In my
humble opinion we have these crops in
red spring wheat, rust.proof oats,p s,potatoes,
Indian kafir and similar corns, Bermu-
da, crab, tall meadow, oat and orchard
grass, red and white clover and peas,
we'll bred stock, whether of horses, cattle
or hogs, and last, as strictly money
crop, cotton. I take no stock, gentle.
men, in the sickly sentiment that is pa
raded by certain writers in agricultural
journals against this, our best money
crop. In our State, favorable as it is to
its production, we cannot dispense with
it.
It is not cotton versus live stock, grass
and the cereals, but cotton. in connection
with these branches of diversified agricul.
ture. So far as my observation and
experience go the attempts to discard its
cultivation have proven unhappy failures
and at last the mistaken man is forced to
acknowledge his error and return to the
practice of the best farmers of the State.
I do not undervalue the importance of
truck farming, dairying, grape and fruit
growing to those who are fortunately
near non. producing centres, or have easy
and quick communication with larger
markets, nor do I feel that I am called
upon to discuss these exceptional crops.
It is with The average farmer and the
standard crops of the State that we are
concerned. Whilst wheat and oats, corn,
grass, clover, peas, live stock and cotton,
with the rotation which their cultivation
develops, may not be perfect as system,
am confident in asserting it as the best
known practice of our most successful
farmers.
Desperate efforts have been made from
time to time by individuals, by the State
and by the United States, to introduce
other crops into our list of profitable
ones, but so far with notable failure, with
some Of the most promising.
Tea has been abandoned after siren.
uous and expensive efforts have been
exhausted to acclimate and otherwise
adapt it to our agriculture.
Silk has even been an alluring but de-
ceptive phantom leading its votaries to
disappointment and loss.
Tobacco seems to be less profitable
than cotton, whilst sorghum, as source
for sugar, has been pronounced by com.
petent experimenters so absolutely
failure that it would take special act Of
creation to get sugar from it at all.
What We require is more general use
of the crops now known to US rather than
multiplication of many doubtful ones.
We have profitable crops, both for market
and home consumption. If, however, a
real want is felt in.this line, rejoice
with you that the State has opened its
lethargic eyes to our necessities, and has
ordered experimental stations to test for
us these untried novelties.
But, MIR President and Worthy Master,
there is one crop wanted to perfect our
agricultural system, and upon its speedy
and universal introduction hangs cry
much the material prosperity of our
State; that crop is crop of educated
farmers and I appeal to you gentlemen of
the two societies, to aid us in our endea-
vors to secure to our languishing agricul-
ture and impoverished State this crop,
which promises to infuse new life into
our ranks. I speak for myself, and for
the people whom have the honor to
represent, that it is our highest arm, and
from which we will not recede until in
South Carolina it is possible for the sons
Of farmers to receive an agricultural
education in keeping with that provided
for her other SONS; when it will be con.
sidered no longer necessary for him to
abandon his hereditary calling to pre-.
serve his dignity, or that of his alma
mater.